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Original poster

Would you let your 3-4 year old wander round naked in your street /drive way?

77 replies

Poppychick · 26/07/2008 17:23

Just curious really. Our neighbours let their DD wander about on hot days naked round their and their neighbour's drive on the pavement at the front of their house. They also let her stand in the front window naked.

I don't believe my kids should be ashamed of their bodies but wouldn't let them do this. It seems inappropriate to me. It could put them at risk and make others feel uncomfortable.

What do others think? Am I being obsessive?

OP posts:
DanJARMouse · 26/07/2008 17:55

no hesitation what so ever!

Next doors grandson comes over a few times a week (great friends with the DD's) and he is forever running around with no clothes on.

I love the fact that where I live kids can be kids and not have to worry (private estate) but I think its sad that tiny people are being subjected to covering up in the name of fear when they should be just playing innocently regardless of clothing or not.

belgo · 26/07/2008 18:00

I think that's probably true Mercy.

Blu · 26/07/2008 18:03

I wouldn't let a 3 - 4 year-old wander unsupervised / unobserved in the street fully clothed from balaclava to boots, though!

belgo · 26/07/2008 18:05

No I wouldn't either Blu - far too worried about traffic.

wulfstan · 26/07/2008 18:20

Given that she's 20,000 times more likely to die of obesity than at the hands of a paedophile, you should probably direct your concerns towards your neighbours' kids eating habits rather than their propensity for nudity.

Morloth · 26/07/2008 18:26

Well as mentioned before I am slightly obsessed with suncare so DS wouldn't be out for very long with no clothes on and at 4 he isn't out alone ever.

He does wander around here naked quite often (as do we all ) and will go into the garden naked if the fancy takes him but it doesn't really so it hasn't come up.

I remember the first time I was at a paddling pool here in the UK and lots of kids were naked! Freaked me right out! Not worried about creeps just UV rays.

chipmonkey · 26/07/2008 18:35

LOL, ds3 is parading aboutin nothing but a tee shirt as we speak. But he g=has only been indoors and in the back garden. I never could get ds3 to do what I wanted as opposed to what he wanted!

Shoegazer · 26/07/2008 20:16

Would not bother me one bit with regards to "appropriateness", I don't see the problem there at all. I would prefer some cover up against the sun but other than that I wouldn't bat an eyelid.

DisenchantedPlusBump · 26/07/2008 20:18

Yes,in our garden, they are kids. They love being naked.

Im pretty sure there are no paedos under the garden shed.

Liz79 · 26/07/2008 20:55

We were on the beach today with MIL and FIL and 7mo DD. We were letting her have a nappy free kick on the rug and MIL kept trying to shade DDs bits in case anyone saw. I was more concerned with keeping her in the shade and wondered what it mattered if people saw her bits? Think MILs concern was to protect DD from inappropriate attention rather than to preserve DDs dignity

Elkat · 27/07/2008 00:26

No I wouldn't. I let my DD go naked in the house and back garden, but not at the front door or driveway. IMHO its not appropriate and I would make her wear clothes in a public area.

solo · 27/07/2008 00:33

Children shouldn't have to care about being naked, but the hard truth is that there are paedophiles and predators out there, so we as parents have to protect our kids which unfortunately, in this day and age, means clothes on unless in their own home or other family homes. Sorry!

solo · 27/07/2008 00:39

My 19mo Dd wore a swim suit on the beach on Thursday with a nappy on under it!

Fennel · 27/07/2008 12:27

Yes, I still let my 8yo dd do this.

I consider it perfectly appropriate for children to be unashamed of their bodies.

solo · 27/07/2008 12:34

I don't think shame comes into it. Where do you let your 8yo go naked?

I've worked with sex offenders and some of them get their rocks off just watching naked kids. I wouldn't allow it with my two outside of our home or my parents.

Fennel · 27/07/2008 12:48

I let her in our front garden (quite overlooked by neighbours), and I would on the beach. Not actually in the street. But I'm not too bothered who might be looking into our garden. If we had neighbours who seemed dodgy I might think again.

Booboobedoo · 27/07/2008 12:54

Question for solo: but do you think that children are more likely to be snatched because of this?

I'm asking you as you say you have worked with paedophiles.

If not, then I think it should remain their problem, and the children should be allowed to enjoy the sun on their skin.

Of course, if it means they are in more physical danger, then that's different.

Fennel · 27/07/2008 12:56

I suspect my 8yo is in more actual danger from a paedophile when she's wandering alone (but dressed) around the village, than playing naked in the garden with me in the house. but I let her wander alone. And just rely on knowing that it's actually rare for a child to be abducted.

morningpaper · 27/07/2008 12:57

Yes I let my children in the front garden naked

I feel a little awkward sometimes when they strike up conversation with the old chap next door

But realistically if I was approached by a fat naked child I would squeal with delight and their loveliness

morningpaper · 27/07/2008 12:59

before that she would answer the door to the teaman naked

The TEAMAN? WTF is a teaman?

GordonTheGopher · 27/07/2008 13:00

What about public paddling pools? I had ds in a swim nappy at first, but then he kept rolling around wet in the sand (like a hippo!) so the nappy came off and he had the best time!!

TheMadHouse · 27/07/2008 13:05

My boys who are 2 and 3.4 spend most of their time naked - or nudey rudey dudey as they call it.

I dont see what is wrong with it, in fact we were at a park over the road from the beech yesterday and they wanted to play in the sea, so thy both striped off.

I am trying to teech the older one that there appropriate and inappropriate places, at home, no issues. He ha even been known to come and help wash the car in the nude.

He is lovley and I dont want him to grow up with hangups, also let tem be children, my mum has loads of pictures of me in the nude at this age.

solo · 27/07/2008 13:13

I think that it puts more temptation in their way. Snatching a child depends on the individual, but who knows who would take that extra step? I personally wouldn't take the chance. There are far too many sexual predators out there to take a chance IMO. Nope! wouldn't do it and I make no apologies for that.

"Why did you allow your child to play in the front garden naked Mrs.Normal"?
"Because I didn't feel my child should be ashamed of their body".

Sorry, it just doesn't sit well with me. The only time my Ds has been naked on the beach was on a deserted bay in Australia when he was 3.
On Thursday, Dd 19mos had a full swim suit on over her nappy on the beach. Not everyone is as they seem.

Sorry if I sound over protective, but the stuff I've seen/heard and read...well, let's just say that none of you would be as relaxed about the nudity of your kids in a publicly viewable area if you'd seen the same.

juneybean · 27/07/2008 13:16

Hmm I'd make sure they had bottoms on but other than that I'd let my kid out in next to nothing lol

solo · 27/07/2008 13:16

BTW, my Ds is 10 next month and he wanders around the house naked as do I, so he's not ashamed of his body.